American Guild of Organists District of Columbia Chapter
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Music at Midday

Fridays, 12:15-1 pm at National City Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 5 Thomas Circle NW
Concerts are usually offered live (social distancing in effect; masks required) and also broadcast on the NCCC YouTube channel. Admission is free, though donations are accepted.
Music at Midday
Detailed information at www.nationalcitycc.org or contact the Rev. Dr. J. Michael McMahon at mmcmahon@nationalcitycc.org 
Online only:
  • April 16: Loreto Aramendi, San Sebastián, Spain
  • April 23: Carson Cooman, Cambridge, MA
In person and online: 
May 7: The organ and piano duo of Chuyoung and Erik Wm. Suter will perform the romantic Piano Concerto No. 2 of Sergei Rachmaninoff.
 
May 14: Organist Carol Feather (Arlington) performs music of Larry King, Frank Bridge, Jeanne Demessieux, and Hans Uwe Hielscher, including works that express the joy of Easter and Pentecost. 
 
May 21: Composer and organist Justus (Jay) Parrotta (DC) will perform a program of his own works, including pieces based on well-known hymn tunes and a four-movement suite for organ.
 
May 28: Virginia organist Carter Stevens will perform music by great composers, including J. S. Bach, Leo Sowerby, Kenneth Leighton and Charles Marie Widor.

National Competition in Service Playing

Jan. 6-8, 2022
Sponsored by the DC Chapter of AGO, Schoenstein and Co. Organ Builders, and St. Paul’s K Street, Washington, DC

Competition Guidelines:
Preliminary Recorded Round
Candidates submit video or audio digital recording of a live performance with their local singers, to include
  1. Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen (How lovely are thy dwellings) by Johannes Brahms
  2. Hymn of their choice with singers
  3. Solo: The Call (from Five Mystical Songs by Ralph Vaughan Williams) with soloist
​      4. Psalm setting of their choice, recorded with singers; either
   a. Responsorial style with antiphon and accompanied solo verses     b. Anglican Chant 

Submission qualifications and deadline:
Open to all American citizens under age 30 at the time of application.
Applicants must submit a scan of their US passport or state-approved ID. 
Submission deadline for preliminary round: Nov. 15, 2021.
Submission fee of $35 payable to DC Chapter AGO or via Paypal
Submission location: via Dropbox, details coming

Selection of Four Finalists:
Candidates will be notified of their qualification by Dec. 1, 2021.
Housing in Washington, DC, will be provided for finalists for three nights.

Final Live Competition Jan. 6-8, at St. Paul's K Street:
Finalists arrive Jan. 6 or 7 to work on the organ for three hours each.
Friday 6-10 pm: Finalists rehearse with a local choir in 45-minute increments.
Saturday 10-noon: Public lecture-workshop by Professor Thomas Murray on accompanying Benjamin Britten’s “Rejoice in the Lamb.” 
 Lunch on your own.
 1-3:30 pm: Finalists perform publicly with a local choir conducted by Dr. Jeffrey Smith
Jury deliberation and announcement of winner
6 pm: Dinner with judges, finalists and committee

Repertoire for live Final Round
1.  Vocal solo. Choose one from
   a. Ex ore innocentium  by John Ireland
   b. Clouds and darkness or He delivered the poor (from Hear my Words) by C.H.H.Parry 
   c. Easter (from Five Mystical Songs by Ralph Vaughan Williams

2. Psalm setting. Choose one from
   a.  Anglican Chant of at least 6 vv
    b.  Responsorial Psalm of at least 4 vv
     c.  Gregorian Introit Antiphon including verse and Gloria

3. German choral or Genevan psalm tune of candidates’ choice
    
4. Hymn composed after 1830 of candidates’ choice
(Items 3 and 4 should include at least three stanzas, with introduction, interlude and free harmonization, as if accompanying an enthusiastic congregation of some 200.)

5. One of the following:
   a. Magnificat and Nunc dimittis in A by C.V. Stanford
   b. Give unto the Lord by Edward Elgar
   c. Sanctus and Agnus Dei from Gabriel Faure’s Requiem
   d. Te Deum from Collegium Regale by Herbert Howells

Panel of Judges  
Professor Thomas Murray
Dr. John Walker
National Cathedral Canon Michael McCarthy

Prizes
$5,000 1st Prize provided by Schoenstein & Co.
$2,500 2nd Prize provided by Schoenstein & Co.
Housing for finalists will be provided for three nights.

Organ Events 


Sunday, April 18, 3:30 pm:
Ronald Stolk plays a recital at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, 1725 Rhode Island Ave. NW. Masks and social-distancing will be observed. Also to be live-streamed.  For more information, visit the Cathedral website.  Donations accepted, but not required.

Friday, April 23, 7 pm: Dr. Jennifer Pascual, director of music at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, plays an in-person and livestreamed recital at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington. For more information, go to cathedralstm.org/music-ministries/cathedral-concerts.

Tuesday, April 27, 12:10 pm: Church of the Epiphany posts a performance by Washington National Cathedral organist George Fergus on its Youtube channel. The program will include Prelude, Fugue and Chaconne - Buxtehude; Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, BWV 542 - Bach; Hommage à Dietrich Buxtehude (Toccatenfuge) - Petr Eben; and more.

Tuesday, May 11, 12:10 pm: Church of the Epiphany posts a performance by organist Jordan Prescott of Grace and St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Baltimore, on its Youtube channel. Jordan plays works by Bach, Dupre, Howell and more.

Sunday, May 16, 4 pm: Carl Schwartz (All Hallows Parish, South River, Edgewater, Md.) plays a livestream recital at the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America in Northeast DC.  Log onto myfranciscan.org to view.

​Wednesday, May 26, 12:40 pm: Rebecca Yoder plays a recital at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, 1725 Rhode Island Ave. NW. Masks and social-distancing will be observed. Also to be live-streamed.  For more information, visit the Cathedral website.  Donations accepted, but not required.

Tuesday, June 15, 12:10 pm: Church of the Epiphany posts a performance by organist Paul Byssainthe Jr. of Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church in Takoma Park on its Youtube channel. He performs organ works for the celebration of Juneteenth.
 
Tuesday, June 29, 12:10 pm: Church of the Epiphany posts a performance by organist Jinsun Cho on its Youtube channel. She plays Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C Major BWV 564 by J. S. Bach and Sonata on the 94th Psalm by Julius Reubke. 
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